Vehicles smuggling passengers face raps, penalties

Vehicles engaged in “smuggling” passengers and colorum operations in provinces with less restrictive quarantine levels face criminal liabilities and fines, the Department of Transportation said. Reinier Paul Yebra, undersecretary for legal affairs, said drivers of “colorum” vans face a fine of P200,000, while colorum buses face a penalty of P1 million. The drivers also face 15 years up to life imprisonment for violation of the Anti-Trafficking in Persons Act of 2003. “We understand that our fellow citizens want to go back to their homes, but we should make sure that we won’t bring the virus with us,” Yebra said. —Mariejo S. Ramos